Whether it’s a Smelly Factory Next Door or from an Unknown Source, Odors can Cause Real IAQ Problems

Odor Identification

Category

Press Release

Publish Date

12/15/2013

Author

Paul Cochrane

Title

Whether it’s a Smelly Factory Next Door or from an Unknown Source, Odors can Cause Real IAQ Problems

Introduction

LA Testing offers odor identification services to help resolve both known and mystery odor complaints.

Whether it’s a Smelly Factory Next Door or from an Unknown Source, Odors can Cause Real IAQ Problems

LA Testing offers odor identification services to help resolve both known and mystery odor complaints.

Garden Grove, CA, December 11th, 2013

Last month, NBC News reported that residents of a small city near Los Angeles had received some good news. A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ordered the manufacturer of a spicy condiment in Irwindale to take steps to reduce a strong odor that caused nearby residents of the facility to file a lawsuit. The judge’s order is an interim measure while the court considers the resident’s lawsuit.

Odors that cause indoor air quality (IAQ) problems happen all the time. While residents of the food manufacturing plant in Irwindale readily knew the source of their odor, many times the source of an indoor odor can be a real mystery. Mystery odors in an indoor environment can cause everything from a nuisance to health concerns for building occupants. These same odors can even lower property values and in commercial and institutional settings may result in lower productivity, increased absenteeism and higher turnover rates.

“Exposure to indoor odors can in some circumstances cause irritations, allergies and even trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “In high concentrations, some gases can cause more severe health concerns as many chemicals are known carcinogens and in rare circumstances could even be an explosion hazard. When the source of an indoor odor is not readily apparent, air testing will often provide the information needed to identify the root cause of the odor. Air testing can also identify the concentration of any chemicals found so that it can be determined if there is an imminent health concern. Once the odor has been identified, it is then often possible to develop a strategy to eliminate the odor through mechanical means, filtration or changes in the contents and daily practices within a home or building.”

LA Testing provides odor testing services to identify a wide range of air pollutants. The company recently sponsored an educational video about mystery and nuisance odors that can be seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDzaVWPBGY

LA Testing and EMSL Analytical are providers of environmental testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. LA Testing has laboratories throughout California staffed with the industry’s leading scientists and advanced instrumentation.